Sanghyuk Woo, “Barsim, you prepared hard… Olympic exploration match in Doha on the 9th”
Participation in ‘What Gravity Challenge’, where only the top 12 contestants are invited by Barsim.
“I understand how Barsim prepared.”
Woo Sang-hyuk (28, Yongin City Hall) defined the ‘What Gravity Challenge’ held in Doha, Qatar, as an ‘exploration match’ in preparation for the Paris Olympics.
Woo Sang-hyuk, whom we met after playing the first outdoor game of the season in the men's high jump collegiate and general division of the 52nd KBS National Athletics Championships held at Yecheon Stadium in Gyeongbuk on the 3rd, said, "Barsim is a player who refrains from competing at the beginning of the season, but this year. 온라인카지노
He said, “Of course he will want to win the competition he is hosting, having already played two outdoor competitions” and added “Barsim has prepared so hard, and only truly world-class players will participate, so it will be a really fun competition.”
Woo Sang-hyuk, who said “the record is disappointing” even after winning the KBS Cup with 2m25, leaves for Doha, Qatar late in the afternoon on the 5th.
In domestic competitions, Woo Sang-hyuk does not compete for rankings.
On this day, Woo Sang-hyuk succeeded at 2m19 in the first period, confirming his victory, and played the remaining matches as if he was training.
However, international competitions are different.
In particular, the What Gravity Challenge held in Qatar on May 9 stimulates Woo Sang-hyuk's desire to win.
This competition was planned by Mutaz Essa Barsim (Qatar), the best active jumper, in partnership with the Qatar Athletics Federation.
Barsim, who won one gold and two silver medals at the Olympics and won three consecutive world championships, participated in major competitions with 'What Gravity' engraved on his hat.
This is a fitting phrase for Barshim, who jumps high as if defying gravity.
Barsim planned an international single event men's high jump event with the Qatar Athletics Federation, and named the event 'What Gravity Challenge'.
The World Association of Athletics Federations recognized this competition as ‘Continental Tour Silver Level’.
Barshim pledged, “I will create a competition where the world’s top 12 men’s high jumpers can jump,” and jumpers who command the world stage actually responded to Barsim’s invitation.
Woo Sang-hyuk is also a player that Barshim put a lot of effort into.
Last February, Woo Sang-hyuk and Barshim trained in Germany, and during this time, Barshim contacted Woo Sang-hyuk and politely asked him to participate in the competition.
Woo Sang-hyuk responded, “It is an honor to be invited to a competition where only world-class players participate.”
The list of participants in the What Gravity Challenge is so spectacular that it is comparable to the 'Olympic Finals'.
Kim Do-gyun, the national team coach, explained, "At the Olympics, variables arise and sometimes the top candidates do not make it to the finals, so the list of participants for this year's Doha Games is more spectacular than the Olympic finals."
Barsim, Woo Sang-hyuk, Gianmarco Tamberg (Italy), and Juvon Harrison (USA), who are currently classified as the 'big four' in world track and field men's high jump, will all participate in this competition.
Barshim is the strongest player on the force that needs no explanation.
Woo Sang-hyuk emerged as 'Barshim's rival' by building a brilliant career, including winning the 2022 World Indoor Championships, second place at the Outdoor World Championships, and winning the 2023 Diamond League Final.
Tamberg tied for first place with Barshim at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
He is also the 2023 Budapest World Championship champion.
Harrison took second place at the Budapest World Championships last year, becoming a world-class jumper.
In addition to the 'Big 4', top athletes who can be considered as doubles at the Paris Olympics will also participate, such as Hamish Kerr (New Zealand), who won this year's World Indoor Championships, and Andriy Protsenko (Ukraine), who ranked third at the 2022 Eugene World Championships.
Rather, Bondarenko (Ukraine), Tobias Fortier (Germany), Naoto Tobe (Japan), Wang Zhen (China), and Luis Rivera (Puerto Rico) are also jumpers who frequently participated in major international competitions.
Woo Sang-hyuk said, "The athletes participating in the Doha competition are all top jumpers preparing for the Paris Olympics.
This will be an opportunity to check each other's current status."
If he wins in a place where top jumpers gather, Woo Sang-hyuk's name can shine once again.
Woo Sang-hyuk, whose personal best record is 2m 36, said, "I plan to continue to challenge 2m 37, which is the height possible to win the Paris Olympics and is the new Korean record.
At the Doha Games, where you have to compete for rankings, you must enter the 'championship zone' to attempt 2m 37."
He expressed his motivation, saying, “I definitely want to challenge 2m37 in Doha.”